AAE -- For Better For Worse

Part 2 -- Chapter 27

by LoveCR2

edited by All-About-AAE

 

 

"I can't wait to see what you've done with the place," Hyung-Chul eagerly alights from the taxi on Mayfair's Park Lane.

 

"Mind you, it's still a work in progress," Sun-Mi tries to dampen his expectations, taking his arm as they walk together from the curb to the building entrance. "I hope you're not disappointed."

 

"It's so nice to be back with you," he replies earnestly. "Seeing you look so beautiful, nothing could disappoint me. "

 

Since she had met him at Heathrow, for the entire taxi ride to Mayfair, Hyung-Chul hadn't taken his eyes off Sun-Mi for a second.

 

For his return, Sun-Mi had chosen the understated elegance of a three-quarter sleeve, pure white A-line dress from DKNY with a simple scoop neckline and a flowing, pleated, knee-length skirt. Her accessories were classic -- a single strand of Mikimoto pearls adorning her slender neck, paired with solitaire pearl earrings and a wrist bracelet. A red Hermes handbag, carried in the crook of her left arm, made a bold splash of color matched to 85mm stiletto heel, Manolo Blahnik pointed-toe pumps, completing a sophisticated and chic ensemble.

 

"Sweet words," she accepts the compliment as her cheeks blush pink. "But don't speak so loudly, you'll embarrass me!"

 

As they enter into the spacious walnut-paneled lobby, the building porter greets them cheerfully, "Good evening, Miss Jin. Director Yoon, how was your trip?"

 

"Long and tiring," Hyung-Chul replies. "It's good to be back."

 

"It's good to see you again, too, Sir."

 

"Any messages today?" Sun-Mi asks.

 

"No, Miss. But the painters have left early for the day, as you requested."

 

"Thank you."

 

"Have a good night," the porter sends them off with a nod.

 

 

But Hyung-Chul hesitates, then grins at the porter. "She told me not to say anything, but isn't my fiancee exceedingly lovely today?"

 

Surprised, Sun-Mi gapes at Hyung-Chul, then at the porter.

 

"Yes, Director. Whenever I see Miss Jin, it always brings a smile to my face," the porter observes. "But I've never seen her sparkle more brightly than coming in with you today."

 

Raising her free hand, Sun-Mi vainly tries to hide the blush rapidly spreading across her entire face.

 

"I thought so," Hyung-Chul concurs. "Shall we go up, Dear?"

 

 

From the lobby, they take the lift up to their tenth floor penthouse flat.

 

"I told you not to say anything!" Sun-Mi complains, poking him in the ribs with her forefinger.

 

"Sorry, I couldn't help myself," Hyung-Chul accepts his punishment. "I just couldn't hold it in, how happy I am to be with you again."

 

Chastened by his sincerity, Sun-Mi raises up on tiptoe and gives him a peck on the cheek to compensate for her earlier irritation. "Actually, I'm so happy you're back, I couldn't help smiling more brightly, too."

 

 

Sun-Mi unlocks the entrance door, then slips the keys back into her handbag. Pushing the door open, she walks into the flat's entrance hall. A few steps further is an expansive, open-plan living and dining room, with a vaulted ceiling and wall of plate glass opening onto a roof terrace facing into Hyde Park.

 

"Watch your step," she warns about the drop cloths covering much of the floor as they pick their way in, before turning to their left to view the adjoining kitchen, fitted out with refinished cupboards and new, gleaming stainless steel appliances.

 

"It looks fantastic!" Hyung-Chul admires the remodeled space, which he had last seen in a gutted state. "What about the rest?"

 

"The bedrooms are all done, with new window drapes and blinds, flooring, and furniture," she informs him on the status of the work.

"This is the last room to be finished

 

"Have you cooked here?"

 

"Not yet. I did some shopping this morning at the Korean grocery near Auntie's house to stock the larder and fridge. She's been teaching me her recipes. I'm looking forward to cooking our first meal together tonight!" Sun-Mi anticipates enthusiastically.

 

"I can't wait either," Hyung-Chul agrees, happy that she apparently has given up her attempts at Western-style cooking. "But where will we eat? There's no dining table."

 

"We'll eat on the terrace," she points outside to the table and chairs. "I put the furniture order on standby, waiting for your approval on the color matching. The painters put up samples to look at," she confirms what he had already guessed from the rows of large sample stripes on the walls, paired with swatches of upholstery fabrics. "If we can choose today, they can deliver in four weeks from Italy. I hope you don't mind."

 

"I won't if you don't," he assures her, then takes the opportunity to lightly put in a dig, "You're the one who's living here, not me."

 

Sun-Mi smiles, but lets his comment on their delayed marriage drop.

 

"So, do you like the colors or not?" she presses for an immediate decision.

 

"Whatever you like, I like," he answers cautiously again.

 

 

"Are you humoring me?" Sun-Mi pouts, indignantly crossing her arms.

 

"Of course not. You've always had a better eye for style and design than me," Hyung-Chul compliments her. "It's one of the things which attracted me when I first met you."

 

"Is that really true?" she replies, flattered but dubious, "You've never told me before."

 

"I just assumed you knew this about yourself," he sidesteps her suspicions. "It's just that your talent never had the chance to show so prominently, before now."

 

Sun-Mi glows radiantly at his praise. "Daddy said the same, when we redecorated our home the year before I started in Uni," she confirms his appraisal. "I just thought you never noticed."

 

Hyung-Chul turns and takes her into his arms. "I notice everything about you," he replies, lowering his voice seductively and raising a flirtatious eyebrow as he leans in for a kiss. "Why don't we look at your bedroom next?"

 

"Joker!" she pushes him back, laughing to dispel the heat surging up inside her, making her cheeks flush bright red. "You know we can't go there!"

 

"Just testing the waters," he laughs with her, then sincerely adds, "You've worked hard to accomplish so much in just a few weeks. This is very impressive."

 

"I had more free time with you away traveling," Sun-Mi remarks on his lengthy absence. "It helped to stay busy."

 

"Busy? You must be exhausted, working full time, too," he airs his concern. "When do you sleep? How is your stomach doing?"

 

"Much better these past few days," she smiles, grateful for his attention to her health.

 

"Did you see the doctor, like you promised?"

 

"Yes."

 

"What did she say?"

 

"I'll fill you in later," Sun-Mi defers answering. "First, I have a surprise."

 

"What is it?"

 

"Come and see," she teases.

 

 

She leads him down the hall in the bedroom wing, to the guest bedroom door. Anxious to find out his 'surprise', Hyung-Chul reaches for the door handle.

 

But Sun-Mi lightly slaps his hand away, demanding, "Close your eyes first!"

 

 

He does as she asks, and she opens the door, warning, "Don't peek!"

 

"I won't."

 

Taking his hand, she guides him inside, to the center of the room.

 

"Okay, you can look now."

 

 

Hyung-Chul opens his eyes, gaping dumbfounded at the zoo of colorful cartoon animals parading around the walls.

 

"I painted them myself, over the weekend," Sun-Mi reveals proudly. "What do you think?"

 

 

But Hyung-Chul isn't thinking about the artwork, only the implications. "Are you...?"

 

Sun-Mi beams happily back at him as she announces, "Yes, I'm pregnant!"